Pretty Pedigree Charts

Share this:

When you are working on a heritage album, you will most likely consider including a pedigree chart in your album. While there are many printable versions, and fill in the blank scrapbooking pages that you can do this with, there are other ideas you can use to create a prettier version of a pedigree chart.

First, think how big you want the chart to be. How far back do you want it to go? Remember, that it has to fit within the pages of your scrapbook, but there are ways to work around that as well.

One idea is to print all the names and dates on you computer. This will give your chart a uniform look to it. Choose a font that will be easy to read, but is maybe a little more creative. Print the names on creme colored paper or cardstock. This will make it look more professional than just printing on plain white paper. Next, cut the names out. Cut as close to the print as you can. After, place each name on a coordinating solid color of cardstock. Again, cut around the second piece of paper so that you are creating a matte for each name.

After all of your names have mattes, lay them out how you would like to see them on a page. Instead of drawing lines from name to name, think of a more creative way that you can connect the families together. One idea is to use colored yarn. Another idea is to use ribbon. This will make your pedigree chart look more interesting. You could also use two different colors of yarn or ribbon to indicate the maternal and paternal sides of the family.

Another idea is to create a larger chart that is hidden. For example, you can do this by creating an envelope on a corresponding page that opens up into a larger chart. This might be a good idea if you are trying to fit many names into an album. Decorate the outside of the envelope with alphabet letters spelling out family, or a specific family name like the John Smith family, so that when the viewer opens the envelope, they will find a continuing line for the John Smith family.

If you have good handwriting, you can consider writing every name by hand. This will give a more personal feel to the album, and might be a good idea if you are giving this album to a close family member.

When scrapbooking, you always need to be thinking outside the box, and thinking of more creative ways that you can display your family history.

Meredith Ethington is the author of this blog. To learn more about Meredith, and her history with Scrapbooking and Genealogy, go here.